ASK IRA: Why isn't Hassan Whiteside more a part of Heat's offense?

Q: It looked like Hassan Whiteside was getting frustrated with a lack of touches Sunday. And it seems like he gets most of his points from rebounds and alley-oops. Don't you think they should feature him at least a little bit more on offense? Sure, his post game isn't perfectly polished yet, and his passing is subpar. But at least give it a chance. When he finally started getting fed the ball a little more often, he seemed so eager to score that he made some bad shot selections. Maybe we go into the post at least a little bit more, some good will come out of it. -- Matthew, Harrogate, Tenn.

A: First, the way this team, roster and style are structured, it is an equal-opportunity offense, the Heat certainly at their best at the end of last season when they could feature a variety of double-figure scorers. So it's not as if there is going to be an ongoing focus on featuring individual players (at moments, yes, like when Dion Waiters gets hot in fourth quarters). You certainly can make a case that with double-doubles, blocked shots and deterrence that Whiteside, with the contributions, alone, can justify his four-year, $98 million deal. But, yes, I would think that more could be done offensively with Whiteside, with the caveat that if the best possible shot is not there, then the ball should go back out of the post, if only to repost. So part of it has to be on Hassan, as well.

Q: Through 13 games it's abundantly clear Kelly Olynyk is a bad signing at that price. He can't defend, turns the ball over too much, given the amount of time he has it, and hits the deck untouched. Teams attack the rim at will when they see him there. Is it time to move on? -- Donny, Coral Gables.

A: No, because you can't, if only for the restriction that he -- or any other player signed in the offseason -- cannot be dealt until Dec. 15, at the earliest. But I agree that Kelly does not appear comfortable on either end. He has been passing up open shots to be more of a team player and rarely goes into the post even when he has a size advantage. And it is abundantly clear that opponents are attacking the rim when he enters for Hassan Whiteside. It is a bit odd that in the season opener, after having an entire preseason of being able to evaluate all the possibilities, that Erik Spoelstra could feel so comfortable enough to play Olynyk and Whiteside side by side, but hasn't felt that way in the three weeks since. If Olynyk isn't going to be utilized at all at power forward, then it becomes a bit more difficult to justify such a cash outlay in free agency.

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Q: I’m sorry, I've been a Heat fan since the inception and I want more. I am tired of mediocrity, and that is exactly what this team is, no more, no less. I want an All-Star, someone I can hand the keys of the franchise to, and we just don't have that. All of these players are complementary to a championship team. -- Nathan, Aventura.

A: Yes. That's what this team is right now, one with .500-level talent. The entire basis for optimism beyond such a figure is a significant step forward from someone on the roster. At this point, we have not seen that, and it could even be argued there has been a regression with a few. It has to be about more than Hassan Whiteside and GoranDragic. But who? Dion Waiters has been up and down. As have Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson. James Johnson has mostly been down, relative to his expectations. And Justise Winslow has yet to gain a foothold, as has Kelly Olynyk. At this point, not much to see here, folks.